DANIEL RAKESTRAW'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN BLACKBURN: SEX OFFENDER AVOIDS JAIL DESPITE BREACHING ORDER
In December 2018, a serious legal case unfolded involving Daniel Rakestraw, a man from Blackburn, who faced multiple charges related to his previous convictions and ongoing breaches of court orders.Rakestraw, who resides on Revidge Road in Blackburn, had a troubling history that culminated in a series of court appearances and legal rulings that highlighted the ongoing risks associated with his actions.
Back in July 2017, Rakestraw was convicted of engaging in sexual activity with a minor, specifically a 14-year-old girl, in the back of his vehicle in Blackburn.
The case was heard at Burnley Crown Court, where prosecutors detailed how police discovered videos of the girl on her mobile phone, which led to the investigation.
The police had initially become suspicious when they observed the girl sitting in the front seat of Rakestraw’s Volkswagen Jetta on Montague Street, Blackburn.
Recognizing her youth and the suspicious circumstances, officers attempted to pull the vehicle over.
However, Rakestraw, aged 23 at the time, chose to evade police, driving at speeds reaching 50 mph in a 20 mph zone and even going the wrong way down a one-way street.
Due to the dangerous nature of his driving, the police decided to cease the pursuit.
Following the chase, officers, guided by members of the public, eventually located Rakestraw walking with the girl.
The police detained them, noting that the girl appeared visibly frightened and was trembling.
During the search, officers found a small amount of cannabis in Rakestraw’s pocket, leading to his arrest on drug charges and for dangerous driving.
Further searches of his vehicle uncovered a cannabis grinder, a lock knife, bed sheets, and female clothing, including underwear, on the back seat.
The police also seized the girl’s mobile phone, where explicit videos of the pair were discovered.
In her interview, the girl revealed that she first met Rakestraw at a funeral and later at an 18th birthday party.
She disclosed her age to him during their interactions, which led to a sexual relationship that she described as consensual.
The relationship involved multiple sexual encounters in Rakestraw’s car, beginning in February, just before his arrest.
The night before his detention, Rakestraw had been kicked out of his home, and he and the girl spent the night sleeping in his vehicle.
During the trial, Rakestraw pleaded guilty to three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, along with charges of driving without due care and attention, possession of cannabis, and possession of a bladed article.
It was also revealed that he had previously been acquitted of a rape charge in 2013, where he was accused of kidnapping and raping a 16-year-old girl, tying her to a bed, and threatening her with a knife.
The victim testified that she feared Rakestraw would stab her if she did not comply with his demands.
Despite his criminal history, including the 2013 rape case, Rakestraw was sentenced to 26 months in prison, with the court also imposing a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and requiring him to register as a sex offender for the same period.
Additionally, he received six penalty points for the driving offence.
The court acknowledged the seriousness of his breaches and the potential danger he posed, especially considering his history of sexual offences and recent contact with minors.
Most notably, in the recent case, Rakestraw appeared in Preston court after it was revealed that he had breached the 10-year sexual harm prevention order by having contact with three girls aged between 12 and 15.
The court heard that Rakestraw, now 25, had been released from prison earlier that year under licence.
Between his release and October, he attended three gatherings where he interacted with these underage girls.
Prosecutor James Preece emphasized that although there was no direct evidence of sexual activity during these contacts, Rakestraw had failed to verify the girls’ ages, assuming they were over 16.
This reckless disregard for the court’s restrictions led to the breach.
In court, Judge Andrew Woolman addressed Rakestraw’s actions, stating: “You pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in that you had contact with three girls who were under the age of 16 and you also had contact with one of the girls via Facebook.” Despite the breaches, Rakestraw was handed a conditional discharge for two years, a decision that drew criticism given his history and the potential risk to minors.
The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in monitoring and managing convicted sex offenders, especially those with a history of breaching court orders and engaging in risky behavior in Blackburn.
